Skip to main content

Newly-wed Dufner dreams of Ryder Cup after magic month

May 21, 2012 -- Updated 1429 GMT (2229 HKT)
American golfer Jason Dufner rose to a career-high 14th in the world rankings after winning the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
American golfer Jason Dufner rose to a career-high 14th in the world rankings after winning the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Justin Dufner leads FedEx Cup standings after his second win in three weeks
  • The 35-year-old hoping to qualify for U.S. Ryder Cup team in September
  • In 22 days he has pocketed more than $2.2 million and got married
  • Former U.S. Ryder Cup player Anthony Kim suffers injury setback

(CNN) -- In just over three weeks, Jason Dufner has won his first two PGA Tour titles and got married.

As the new leader of the FedEx Cup series, the American has catapulted himself into the top-15 of the world rankings and is considered a real contender to win his first major at next month's U.S. Open.

But what he really wants is a spot in Davis Love's Ryder Cup squad come September as the U.S. team seeks to avenge the 2010 defeat by Europe.

"I hope it gets Davis Love's attention. I think I will be No. 1 in the points, so I hope that gets his attention," Dufner told reporters after sinking a final-hole birdie to avoid a playoff at the Byron Nelson Championship on Sunday.

Monty: Difficult time for Tiger
The quest to become a pro golfer
'Lefty' to enter golf's Hall of Fame

"Obviously being a Ryder Cup year, that would be special to have on your resume and play in, even if it's only for one time. That was one of my main goals. The FedEx Cup, being No. 1 is a great position to be in, but we're maybe a little more than halfway through, so we have a long haul on that."

Having been winless for 163 PGA Tour starts, Dufner finally broke his duck in New Orleans at the end of last month when he beat three-time major winner Ernie Els in a playoff to claim the $1.15 million first prize at the Zurich Classic.

The 35-year-old then wed his partner Amanda, had his honeymoon at last week's Players Championship in Florida and took home another $1.17 million in Texas on Sunday as he denied fellow Alabama resident Dicky Pride the chance to claim his second title 18 years after his first -- which would have been a record gap.

"All these things that come with winning are great but I don't think much about 'em, other than the Ryder Cup and trying to win tournaments," Dufner said.

"You probably couldn't dream it any better than what's been going on here. The wedding has been in the works for close to a year so -- I guess I proposed in July -- but to win two events and get married in the span of 22 days, it's pretty remarkable.

"Amanda and I are lucky to be in the position we're in and to have each other and enjoy what's going on around us right now."

Last year Dufner was twice denied his maiden victory in playoffs, the latter coming in the PGA Championship as Keegan Bradley claimed his first major, but he insists he never lost faith that the breakthrough would come.

Rickie Fowler, one of golf's most colorful characters, celebrates his first PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow, where he won in a playoff against 2010 champion Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points. Rickie Fowler, one of golf's most colorful characters, celebrates his first PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow, where he won in a playoff against 2010 champion Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points.
Fowler's first
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
>
>>
Fowler\'s first PGA Tour title Fowler's first PGA Tour title
Donald Trump appeared at the Scottish parliament to express his objection to a proposed wind farm off the coast of his new golf course and hotel complex in Aberdeenshire. He claims he was misled by Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond over the offshore development.
Donald Trump appeared at the Scottish parliament to express his objection to a proposed wind farm off the coast of his new golf course and hotel complex in Aberdeenshire. He claims he was misled by Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond over the offshore development.
Trump blown off course?
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
>
>>
Trump threatens to sue Scotland Trump threatens to sue Scotland
Ernie Els is most famous for his golfing exploits, but as his career reaches its twilight years he is focusing on a cause dear to his heart. Ernie Els is most famous for his golfing exploits, but as his career reaches its twilight years he is focusing on a cause dear to his heart.
Close to home
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
>
>>
Ernie Els: A father\'s love Ernie Els: A father's love

"People don't realize how fine the line is between winning. Sometimes that can be a hard pill to swallow, but when I've been on the other side of it, I always took encouragement from it, that I was playing great golf, and my time was going to come," he said.

"I think it really just propelled me this offseason. I played some events overseas where I played well, and I was thinking coming into the beginning of this year that I could play some really good golf. It's time to win some events out here.

"I feel comfortable on the golf course when I'm out there. I feel like I'm in good control of my game, getting better emotionally with dealing with the pressures of trying to win out here."

Meanwhile, former U.S. Ryder Cup player Anthony Kim has no chance of qualifying for this year's match in Illinois after being ruled out for up to five months with arm injuries.

Kim missed the 2010 defeat in Wales after having thumb surgery, and now he faces another long rehabilitation after damaging his right elbow when he hit a rock at the Texas Open as well as suffering from tendinitis in his left forearm.

"I'm obviously disappointed because I've been fighting to get my game back on the right track and having an injury hold me back is frustrating," the three-time winner said in a statement on the PGA Tour website.

"I've been through this process before, though, and know that you have to put in your work with treatments to get healthy. That will be my focus for the next four or five months so I'm in a position to return healthy towards the end of the year and be fully ready for 2013."

ADVERTISEMENT
Part of complete coverage on
April 16, 2013 -- Updated 1615 GMT (0015 HKT)
Masters champion Adam Scott not only has to contend with national hero status at home but also the role of golf's latest sex symbol.
April 12, 2013 -- Updated 1118 GMT (1918 HKT)
Discover why golf's old school establishment fears a new breed of players creating new popularity with their online antics.
April 11, 2013 -- Updated 1854 GMT (0254 HKT)
Following the web's reaction to Adam Scott's dramtic triumph at the 2013 Masters.
April 12, 2013 -- Updated 1408 GMT (2208 HKT)
It's not just golf that makes Augusta so special -- there's also James Brown, cheese pimiento sandwiches, turkeys and ghosts.
March 26, 2013 -- Updated 1300 GMT (2100 HKT)
As a swimmer, his countless hours of training paid off handsomely. As a golfer, Michael Phelps is wondering what he got himself into.
April 1, 2013 -- Updated 1306 GMT (2106 HKT)
D.A. Points strikes a 'Dufnering' pose with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the Shell Houston Open at the Redstone Golf Club on March 31, 2013 in Humble, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
American D.A. Points celebrates his win at the Houston Open by joining in the "Dufnering" craze that has gripped golf recently.
March 7, 2013 -- Updated 1340 GMT (2140 HKT)
Ernie Els' coach Claude Harmon and former world No.1 Martin Kaymer tell Living Golf that anchored putting is dividing the sport.
March 7, 2013 -- Updated 1349 GMT (2149 HKT)
Matteo Manassero, the youngest player to qualify for the Masters, reflects on his career and the boy who will break one of his records.
March 7, 2013 -- Updated 1334 GMT (2134 HKT)
Living Golf meets Thorbjorn Olesen as the rising star of European golf prepares for the most important tournaments of his career.
March 13, 2013 -- Updated 1925 GMT (0325 HKT)
Martin Kaymer reflects on his performance at the 39th Ryder Cup, when he sunk the winning putt against the United States.
February 7, 2013 -- Updated 1501 GMT (2301 HKT)
CNN's Shane O'Donoghue asks how much Rory McIlroy's new multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal is really worth.
February 7, 2013 -- Updated 1748 GMT (0148 HKT)
Living Golf meets Paul McGinley, who talks about becoming Europe's new Ryder Cup captain.
February 18, 2013 -- Updated 1149 GMT (1949 HKT)
Paul McGinley's former captain, Sam Torrance, shares some advice for the pro golfer turned new Ryder Cup captain.
February 7, 2013 -- Updated 1516 GMT (2316 HKT)
Don Riddell explores whether Tuscany can follow up on Italy's successes on the European Tour and develop golf tourism.
February 7, 2013 -- Updated 1512 GMT (2312 HKT)
2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer shares his favorite shots with CNN's Shane O'Donoghue.
February 5, 2013 -- Updated 1840 GMT (0240 HKT)
Two men with lofty ambitions in a midwestern town of the United States have finally realized their dream after months of endeavor.
January 3, 2013 -- Updated 1213 GMT (2013 HKT)
Living Golf's Shane O'Donoghue explores the changing role of black players in South African golf.
January 3, 2013 -- Updated 1307 GMT (2107 HKT)
Shane O'Donoghue meets South Africa's Branden Grace, the outstanding breakout player from the 2012 European season.
January 3, 2013 -- Updated 1214 GMT (2014 HKT)
Shane O'Donoghue meets Dr. Sherylle Calder, the woman who taught reigning British Open champion Ernie Els how to putt again.
December 22, 2012 -- Updated 1439 GMT (2239 HKT)
It's crazy golf on an insane scale -- a putting green swimming in a giant bowl of noodles and the Great Wall of China for a hazard.
ADVERTISEMENT